“Cyclone Man Of India” Honored With UN Sasakawa Award

Photo: WMO

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI – Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, head of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), has received the prestigious United Nations Sasakawa Award 2025 for Disaster Risk Reduction. This award recognizes his exceptional work in drastically cutting down deaths from cyclones in the North Indian Ocean.

The 2025 theme for the award, “Connecting Science to People: Democratizing Access to Innovation and Technology for Disaster-Resilient Communities,” perfectly highlights Dr. Mohapatra’s groundbreaking efforts. He’s made weather forecasting easier to understand and use, not just for India, but for 13 other countries around the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea that are part of the WMO/ESCAP Panel.

Dubbed the “Cyclone Man of India,” Dr. Mohapatra was key in creating an impact-based forecasting system. This innovative system provides specialized warnings for groups like farmers, fishermen, disaster managers, and those in charge of essential infrastructure. These tailored warnings greatly improve how communities prepare for and react to natural disasters.

The UN Sasakawa Award, established in 1986 with support from The Nippon Foundation, is the highest international honor in disaster risk reduction. It celebrates individuals and organizations worldwide who make outstanding contributions to building communities that can withstand disasters.